Steroid compounds



2,726,2 STEROID COMPOUNDS RobertcB. Molfett, Kalamazoo, Mich, 'assignor to The Upjohn :Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation nfMichigan No Drawing. Application January 4, 1954,

' Serial No.'402,156

6 Claims. (Cl. 260'-239.5

. I The present invention relates to diepoxy steroid compounds of the pregnane series, and is more particularly 2,726,240 Patented Dec. 6, 1955 ice . (which is also obtainable from a 3B,2'l-diacyloxy-5,17a-

concerned with the novel 3,2l-,dihydroxy-5(6),16(-l7)- dioxidopregnan-ZO-one, its 3,2l-diesters and a novel process-for the production thereof.

The novel compounds of. the present invention may be represented by the formula:

CHiORz' wherein R1 and R2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl radicals of hydrocarbon carboxylic acidscontaining up to and including eight carbon atoms. r

The process of the present invention consists of treating a 3,20-diacyloxy-5a'(6a),16e(17et)-dioxido-20 pregnene with bromine to obtain 3-acyloxy5a(6a),l6a(l7a)- dioxido-2 l brOmOpregnan-ZO-One. The 3-acyloxy-'5a(6a) I 116a 1 7a dioxide-2 1 -bromopregnane-2G-o ne is then con- "verted to'the corresponding Zl-iOdOpregnane by'treatment with sodium iodide in acetone and the thus obtained 2'1-iodopregnaue is then treated with a potassiumsalt of thereof, which involves conversion of an enol 'acylate group 'to an a-bromo 'kfiiO group by treatment-with -"elerriental bromine in a non-aqueous medium. Other objects of the present invention will'be' apparent" to those skilled in the art to'which this invention-pertains.

'Ihe'di'e'po'xides of this invention arewaluable intermediates in the preparation of physiologically active steroid-compounds. For example, Reichsteins Compound S and Kendalls Compound F can be Obtained from 3 BQ-I-diacyloxy-S 11(611) 16v.( 17 a -dioxido-pregnan- 20-one, .illustratively '3fl,2l-diacetoxy-5a(6a.),16q(l7a.)-

316a(17a)-dioxidopregnan20eone by treatment .with .h'ydrogenbromide followed by -Raney .nickel reduction to give 35,21rdiacyloxyd,17a.-dihydroxypregnan=20 one, il-

lustratively 318,2 1 diacetoxy- 50t(6(1),16tl( 17a) -dioxidopregnan-ZO-one or 3,9,5,1711,21 tetra-hydroxypregnam20- dihydroxypregnan-20-one, illustratively 35,21-diacetoxy- 5a,(6a),16a( 17a)-dioxidopregnan-20-one by hydrolysis) gives 5,17 .adihydroxy -.21 acetoxypregnane-3,20-dione which when boiled with alcoholic potassium carbcnate yields l7a,2l-'dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (Compound S). Treatment of Reichsteins Compound S with Streptomyces fradiae -[cf. Colingsworth et al., I. Am. Chem. .Soc. '74, 2381 (1952)] yields Kendalls Compound F l lfi,17a,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnene3,2O-dione).

The starting compounds .of the present invention .are

.the 35,20 diacyloxy Sit-(6a.),16a(17u)-diOXidO-20-Pregnene, made by epoxidation of 3fi,20-diacyloxy-5,l6,20- pregnatrienes These compounds are made 'fromflknown 3 fl-hydroxy-S ,16-pregnadien-20-one lfi-dehydropregnenclone) or from the 3 -esters thereof by esterification, enol .esterification and epoxidation. The esten'fication and enol .esterification is usually made with an'isopropenyl ester as illustrated by the method of Moifett et al., I. Am. Chem. Soc. 74,, 2183 (1952), for the preparation of ,3/3,20-diacetoxy-5,16,20pregnatriene, (cf. Preparation 1).

The esters of 3p-hydroxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one are obtained by admixing SB-hydroxy-S,16-pregnadien-20- one (l-dehydropregnenolone) 'with an acylating agent such as, for example, ketene, an acid, an acid chloride or bromide or an acid anhydride or other known acyla ting agents, which may be .substitu'tedbynitro, thio, meth- :oxy, ethoxy, or hydroxy groups usually in a solvent such as, for example, pyridine, or the like, or an inert solvent, including solvents like benzene, toluene, ether and the like, and heating at a temperature between aboutzero degrees centigrade and the boiling .point of the reaction mixture, suitably about room temperature, for ,a period between about one-half and about 96 hours. The time of reaction as .well as the temperature at which thereaction is carried out, theacylating agent, and the ratio of reactants can be varied. The ester is recovered from the reaction mixture by evaporating the solvent or, in case of a water-miscible solvent by pouring the reaction mixture into ice or .cold water, collecting in an appropriate solvent, and washing with successive portions of oxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene, either as a solid or dissolved in an organic solvent, is admixed with the solution or an epoxidizing agent such as perbenzoic acid, in anorganic solvent and separated by conventional procedures asshown inPreparation 2. r

In carrying out the process of the present invention crude or purified 3fl,20-diacyloxy-5a( 6a),l6a(17u):diox- ,ido-ZO-pregnene, dissolved in an organic solvent such as,

illustratively, 'dichloromethy-lene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, or hexane is admixed with bromine'dissolved in the same type of organic solvent.

Low boiling solvents, for example, methylene dichloride,

are preferred. The bromine, dissolved in methylene dichloride, is advantageously added to the chilled solution of the selected 3;8,20'-diacyloxy-5a(6ot),16a(17a)-dioxidopregnan-ZO-one. Temperatures between minus twenty and plus ten degrees are preferable for this bromination reaction, but higher or lower temperatures are operative. ln'the preferred embodiment of this invention the amount advantageous in this reaction.

of bromine employed is in a ratio of one mole of steroid to one mole of bromine, although greater or lesser amounts of bromine may beused. The time of reaction, while not critical, depends on the temperature, the amount of bromine solution employed, the' concentration, and the degree of agitation. Preferably, the bromine solution is'0.1 to 0.5 normal in bromine and is added at a rate such that each drop of solution is discolored before the next is added. At the completion of the reaction the solvent is removed by distillation preferably at reduced pressure, and the residue, 3,3-acyloxy-2l-bromoa(6u),16a(17m)-dioxidopregnan-20-one is recrystallized from organic solvents, such as acetone, methanol, ethanol. Skellysolve B hexane mixture, low boiling petroleum ethers (pentaue mixtures) and mixtures of these solvents, and the like.

In order to obtain a 3fi,21-aCyl0Xy-5oc(6a),l6cc(17a)- dioxido-pregnan-ZO-one, the 2l-bromo compound is first converted to the 21-iodide. This conversion is carried out by refluxing 3,3-acyloxy-2l-bromo-5m(6a),16u(17a)- dioxidopregnan-ZO-one with sodium iodide in acetone at ordinary pressure. A two to five times molar excess of sodium iodide is usually employed and the time of reflux is between five minutes and one hour. The thus-obtained iodide is insoluble in acetone and is removed by filtration. The precipitate is washed with water until free of excess sodium iodide or of the sodium bromide formed in the reaction. The crude material is then admixed with the alkali salt of the selected carboxylic acid. The preferred acids are hydrocarbon carboxylic acids containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, but other organic carboxylic acids substituted by nitro, hydroxy, thio, methoxy or ethoxy groups are also operative. The alkali salt, preferably the sodium or potassium salt of the selected acid, may be added as a solid in powdered form or may be produced in situ by adding the acid as ailiquid or powder to powdered potassium or sodium bicarbonate. An excess of the selected salt or the bicarbonate and selected acid is preferably employed. If the desired acylate is an ester of an acid which is a liquid at room temperature (twenty to thirty degrees centigrade) such as acetic, propionic, butyric, valer ic, isovaleric, hexanoic, heptanoic, octanoic, and the like, either method can be employed. If the acid is at room temperature a solid, such as trimethylacetic, phenylacetic, benzoic, toluic, anisic, gallic, tartaric, citric, maleic, succinic, salicylic, it is preferable to employ the sodium or potassium salt of these acids. In either method the acetone solution of 3/3 acyloxy 5ot(6oc),16ot(17ot) dioxido 21 idopregnan-20-one is refluxed in acetone solution at normal pressure with an alkali salt, such as the sodium or potassium salt of the selected organic acid, or with potassium or sodium bicarbonate and the selected organic acid for a period of one to 48 hours usually for a period of ten to fifteen hours. Agitation of the reaction mixture by mechanical stirring or by the use of a shaking device is After completion of the reaction, the mixture is diluted with water and extracted with a water-immiscible organic solvent, such as ether, methylene dichloride, chloroform, benzene, or the like. The product, a 3fi,2l-diacyloxy-5a(6a),l6a(l7m)-dioxido-pregnan-ZO-one is recovered from the organic layer by evaporating the solvent and recrystallizing the residue from solvents such as methanol, ethanol, ether, Skellysolve B hexanes, acetone, mixtures of these, and the like.

35,21 diacyloxy 5oc(6ot),16ct(17ot) dioxidopregnan- 20-one may be hydrolyzed by dissolving it in an organic solvent such as methanol or ethanol, and admixing with at least two moles, preferably with a slight excess of two moles of sodium or potassitun hydroxide per mole of diester; whereafter the mixture is maintained at a temperature between zero and thirty degrees for a period of thirty minutes to two hours. The reaction mixture is then poured into ice water and the resulting precipitate is collected on a filter and purified by conventional pro r 4 cedures, such as by recrystallization from methanol or ethanol to yield 3fi,21-dil1ydroxy-5a(6e),16a(l7u)-dioxido-pregnan-20-one.

The following examples are illustrative of the process and products of the present invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

PREPARATION 1.3B,20-DIACETOXY-5,16,20-PREGNATR1ENE A solution of about 1.0 grams of 3a-acetoxy-S,l6- pregnadien-ZO-one and 0.15 gram of para-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate in about twenty milliliters of isopropenyl acetate was slowly distilled for a period of about ten hours through a short fractionating column- From time to time isopropenyl acetate was added to keep the volume of the solution above ten milliliters. After cooling the solution remaining in the flask, one gram of sodium bicarbonate was added and the remaining isopropenyl acetate was removed by distillation in vacuo at a temperature below thirty degrees centigrade. The residue was shaken with ether and ice water, the water layer was extracted with more ether and the combined ether layer was washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, water and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from methyl alcohol to yield 3,8,20-diacetoxy-S,16,20-pregnatriene.

In a manner similar to Preparation 1, by reacting Sfl' hydroxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one or a 3B-ester thereof with an isopropenyl ester other representative 35,20-diacyloxy- 5,16,20-pregnatrienes may be prepared such as illustratively 313,20-dipropionoxy-5,16,20-pregnatriene, 3,3,20-dibutyryloxy 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 313,20 divaleryloxy- 5,16,20 pregnatriene, 3 3,20 dihexanoyloxy 5,l6,20' pregnatriene, and the like, or mixed esters such as, for example, 33 acetoxyor 35 benzoyloxy 20 propionoxy-S,l6,20-pregnatriene.

PREPARATION 2.-3fi,20-D1ACETOXY-5a(6a),16a(17a)- DIQXmO-ZO-PRBGNENE A solution containing 0.57 gram (4.12 millimoles) of perbenzoic acid in fifteen milliliters of benzene was added to 0.50 gram (1.26 millimoles) of 3fi,20-diacetoxy-5,l6,20- pregnatriene. The resulting solution was maintained in the dark for thirty minutes after which period 2.07 molar equivalents of perbenzoic acid had been consumed as determined by titration of an aliquot sample. Titration of a second aliquot sample fifteen minutes later showed no change in peracid concentration. To the reaction mixture was now added ether and cracked ice. The ether phase was separated, washed with cold five percent sodium hydroxide solution and subsequently with water until the wash-water was neutral. 'The ether solution was then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure (the ether was distilled below thirty degrees centigrade) to yield a glassy residue. This residue was twice recrystallized from methanol to give 35,20- diacetoxy-5a(6a),1611(17a)-dioxido-20-pregnene of melting point 162 to 163 degrees centigrade.

Analysis-Calculated for C25Hs40s: C, 69.74; H, 7.96. Found: C, 69.72; H, 8.02.

In a manner similar to Preparation 2, by treating a selected13p,20-diaeyloxy-5,16,2O-pregnatriene with a peracid such as perforrnic, peracetic, perbenzoic, monoperphthalic acid,- and the like, other representative 3,20-

diacyloxY-Sa(6a),1 6a(17m)-dioxido-20-pregnenes may be prepared, such as illustratively 3fi,20-dipropionyloxy-5a- (6a),16a(17a) dioxido-20-pregnene, 318,20 dibutyryloxy- 5a'(6a),1601(17a)dioxido-20pregnene, 35,20-divaleryloxy- 5a(6a),16a(l7a)-dioxido-20-pregnene, 3p,20-dihexanoyloxy 5a(6a),16a(17a) dioxido 20 pregnene, 35,20 diheptanoyloxy-5m(6e),16(17m)-dioxido-20-pregnene, 3 6,20 dioctanoyloxy-5u(6e),16a(17a)-dioxido- '20 -pregnene, -3B benzoyloxy 20-acetoxy-5a(6a),16a(17a)-dioxido-20-pregnene, 319 acetoxy-20-propionyloxy-5a(6a),16a(17a)-dioxido-20-pregnene, and the like.

epreegaeo bath :to minus .ten degrees tcentigrade. Thereto-was. added tdrqpwisg under stirring, 4.4:3 milliliters -.of.a 10.278 :nor-

bromine solution in methylene dichloride containing .QdltlOdlS rmole-iof bromine. Ihe ,addition' was :completed uduringwalperiod-ofithirty minutes. Iheisolvent was then .agemoved under reduced ressurebelow :room temperadure, ,yieldingaacrude product. .The crudeproduct-twas idissolvediin methanol eat the boiling ;point and allowed to ylene dichloride and methanol to yield pure .3/3-acetoxym (6a,),',11 6a (1fluEdioxidoibbromopregnan-- one of p g point :1-99.,to,202.,degrees 'eentigradeand {al -11 ,(Qfilthpercentin chloroform).

,Analysim -fialc. ,for QzsHsrBrOs: --.C, 59.10; H, 6.69;

- Example 2.3,B,21417acetaxy fiufdod),1!60(1705) dioxidopregnamZOmne s potassium bicarbonate and acetic acid in acetone' torfield 313 prop'ionyloxy --'5d(6ui),"1$d'(-l7&) dioxido-21 acetoxypregnan-ZO-one. p Example 7 .--3fl,'-2i -dibenzoyloxy-5 a( 6 a) ,1 6a(] 7 a) dioxidopregnan-ZO-one In the same manner as "given in Example 2, 3fi-benzoyloxy 5oz(6ot),l6a(17a) dioxido 21 bromopregnan 20- 10 one, as obtained in Example 3, may be dissolved in acetone coolltotroom temperature. .iEhe crjystals which separated T5 twerelcollected immediately and mecrystallized from methdioxido 2lebromopregnan-lmone, 0.96 gram of powdered .sodiumjiodideand fivemillimeters ofacetone was refluxed at normal-pressure (about 720 to 760 millimeters) for -a periodtof ,fifteen minutes and the reaction mixture was -Pound: C, 67,46; H, 7.84.

In the same manner as given in Example 1, BB-benzoyloxy-Sa(6a),1604(17a)-dioxido-20-pregnene may be treated with bromine in methylene dichloride to yield 3 3-benzoyloxy-5a(6u),16u(17a)-dioxido-2l-bromopregnan-ZO-one.

Example 4 .-3 fl-benzoyloxy-S a (6 a) ,1 6 a 1 7 a di0xid0- 21 -acet0xy-pregnan-20-0ne In the same manner as given in Example 2, 3p-benzoyloxy-5a(6a),16a(17a)-dioxido-21-bromopregnane may be treated with sodium iodide in acetone and subsequently the thus-obtained 2l-iodide may be treated with potassium bicarbonate and acetic acid in acetone to yield 3(3- benzoyloxy t(6a),16a(17u) dioxido 21 acetoxypregnan-20-one.

Example 5.-3;8-pr0pi0nyl0xy-5u(6a) ,16a(1 7a)-di0xid0- 21 -bromo-pregnan-20-one In the manner given in Example 1, 3 ,B-propionyloxy- Sa(6a),16a(17a)-dioxido-20-pregnene may be treated with bromine in methylene dichloride to yield 3 ,B-propionyloxy- 5:1(6a),16a(17m)-dioxido-2l-bromopregnan-ZO-one.

Example 6 .3 fl-propionyloxy-S a 6 a) ,1 6 a 1 7a -di0xido- 21-acetoxy-pregnan-20-0ne In the same manner as given in Example 2, 3/3-propionyloxy 5ot(6a),16a(17ot)di0XldO 21 bromopregnan 20- one may be treated with sodium iodide in acetone and suband refluxed with an excess nftsodium iodide and subsequently the thus-obtained 21-iodide may be treated with sodium benzoate to yield 313,21-dibenzoyloxy-5a(6a),16a (17a)-dioxidopregnan-20-one.

- :Inthe same manner asl-vgivenin Example ,2, Iifimcetoxy- 0 5x16),11614'1740:)-dioxido-21=bromopregnan1201one may be treated with sodium iodide in acetoneland subsequently .the thus-obtained 211iodidesmay be refluxed with ,an excess. of sodium: benzoate .10,,Yield Qfl=aOQtOXY-5m(;6a,),ls6a- (.1.-7a.,)1dioxido12l-benz.oyloxy,pregnan120\one. v I

, ,In .a manner; similar to Examplesrl zthrough 8,, byz-ne- ,acting a 1313,ZO-diacyloxy-htfiaLlfimLlHuQdioxido-QB- ,pregnene with bromine and subsequently- ,11 eating the thus-obtained .ilfleaqyloxy-jat(-6aQ,l-6a;(11a;)-dioxidow2ltbromopregnan-loeone. -withisodimn iodidelin acetone and then with an allcalimsaltofllaselected ronganicraeid contaming .lllp -te1rand including ,-.eight carbon atoms, other e representative 313,2 1.-diacyloxy,-5m(6u.) ,l-fiat 1.7m) dioxidopregnzmeztl-ones -.may be obtained, ::such as:1illustratively 53 dip p ay xm et mln at lel d qp e npregnan-ZO-One A solution of 0.5 gram of 3fi,2l-diacetoxy-5a(6a),16a- (17a)-dioxidopregnan20-one and 0.15 gram of sodium 55 hydroxide in fifteen milliliters of methanol may be heated on the water bath for a period of thirty minutes, adding methanol when necessary to keep the volume approximately constant. The reaction mixture is then poured into 100 milliliters of water, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, and the precipitate thus formed is coloxy-5a(6a) ,16oz( 17a -dioxidopregnan-20-ones,

lected on a filter and recrystallized from methanol to yield 3fl,21-dihydroxy-5a(6u),16m( 17oz) -dioxidopregnan- 20-one.

In a manner similar to Example 9, other 3p,21-diacylsuch as those found in Examples 1 through 8, when treated with excess base, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or barium hydroxide, will yield 33,21-dihydroxy- 5a(6oz),16a( 17a) -dioxidopregnan-20-one.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope sequently the thus-obtained 2l-iodide may be treated with of the appended claims.

M Iclaim: A I i p I V 1. ,A process forthe production of a diepoxypregnane compound of the formula:

CHzOR:

Rio

tWeen minus twenty and plus ten degrees to obtain a 35 acyIoxy-a('6u),16iz( 17a)-dioxido-2l-bromopregnan- 20-one, treating the thus-obtained 2l-bromo compound with sodium iodide in acetone to obtain a 3,8-acyloxy- 5a(6a),l6a(17a)-dioxido-2l-iodopregnan 20 one and treating the 21-iodopregnane with an alkali salt of a carboxylic acid containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, to obtain the corresponding 35,2l-diacyloxy- 5ot(6a),16a( l7a)-dioxidopregnan-20-one.

2. A process for the production of 35,21-diacetoxy- 5ci(6a),16a(17a) dioxidopregnan 20 one which comprises treating a 3fi-acetony-5a(6a),l6a(17m)-dioxido- 20-acyloxy-20-pregnene, wherein the acyl radical is of a carboxylic acid containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, with bromine, at a temperature between minus twenty and plus ten degrees centigrade,- to obtain 33- acetoxy 5m(6a),16m(17a) -dioxido 21 bromopregnan-20-one, then treating the thus-obtained 21- bromo compound with sodium iodide in acetone to obtain 3/8 acetoxy 5a.(6ot),16ot(17o:) dioxido 21 iodo pregnan-20-one and heating the 21-iodopregnane with an alkali acetate to obtain 3fl,2l-diacetoxy-5a(6a),16a 17a) -dioxidopregnan-20 one.

' 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the starting 33- acetoxy 5cc(6a),16cz(17a) dioxido 20 acyloxy 20- -pregnene is 3 8,20 diacetoxy 5o='(6n.),16a=(171x) dioxido-20-pregnene.

4. A process for the production of 3fl,21-dihydroxy- 5a(6a),16a(17a) dioxidopregnan 20 one which comprises: treating a 35,20 diacyloxy 5a(6a),16u(17a.)- dioxido-20-pregnene, wherein the acyl radicals are of a carboxylic acid containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, with bromine at a temperature between minus twenty and plus ten degrees to obtain a 3B-acyloxy 5a(6a),16oz(17ct) dioxido 21 bromopregnan- 20-one, treating the thus-obtained 21-bromo compound with sodium iodide in acetone to obtain a 3p-acyloxy 5oc(6ez),16a(17m) dioxide 21 iodopregnan 20 one and treating the 21-iodopregnane with an alkali salt of a carboxylic acid containing up to and including eight carbon atoms, to obtain the corresponding 35,21-diacyloxy 5a(6ot),16a(17a) dioxidopregnan 20 one, and hydrolyzing the thus-obtained diester with at least two equivalents of base. e

5. A process for the production of 35,21-dihydroxy- 5ot(6ot),l6a(17nt) dioxidopregnan 20 one which comprises treating a 319,20 diacyloxy 5ot(6a),16a(17 l)- dioxido-ZO-pregnene whereinthe acyl radical is of a carboxylic acid containing up to and including eight carbon atoms with bromine, to obtain a 3 3-acyloxy-5a(6a),l6m- (170:) dioxido 21 brornopregnan 20 one, treating the thus-obtained 21-bromo compound with sodium iodide in acetone to obtain a 3fi-acyloxy-5a(6a),l6a- (17a) dioxido 21 iodopregnan 20 one, treating the 21-iod0pregnane with potassium acetate, to obtain 35,21 diacetoxy 5ct(6u.),16a.(17u) dioxido pregnan- 20-one and hydrolyzing the diacetate with at least two equivalents of alkali base per mole of diester to obtain 319,21 dihydroxy 5ot(6a),l6ot(17ct) dioxidopregnan- 20-one.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the 35,20-diacyloxy 5u(6ot),16a(17a) dioxidopregnan 20 one is 313,20 diacetoxy 5a(6at),16a(17a) dioxidopregnan- 20-one.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,312,344 Logemann Mar. 2,1943 2,323,277 Miescher June 29, 1943 2,602,769 Murray July 8, 1952 2,686,181 Julian Aug. 10, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Mofiet: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 74, pp. 2183- (1952). 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A DIEPOXYPREGNANE COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA: 